Avaliação de bifidobacérias e Saccharomyces boulardii como probióticos enfatizando a diarreia: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

The human intestinal microbiota plays an important role in health. It is one of the defense mechanisms against bacterial pathogenesis. Despite its relevance, many factors, such as treatment with antibiotics, can challenge the functional stability of the intestinal bacterial communities. Diarrhoea, a major cause of infant mortality in developing countries, is another factor that affects bacterial intestinal stability. For these reasons, in many situations it is necessary to supplement the diet with probiotics to restore the balance between the microbiota communities. Probiotic is a preparation containing living microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, produce a beneficial effect on the host. Bifidobactérias and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are examples of microorganisms that can be used as probiotics. This paper aims collect data from the literature about the importance of the human intestinal microbiota; the benefits of the use of probiotics, with a focus on microorganisms previously mentioned, and its effects in the treatment of individuals with diarrhoea and in antimicrobial therapy. Several beneficial properties have been attributed to probiotics microorganisms. Among them are the ability of adhesion and inhibition of pathogens, action on intestinal disorders, the response to Clostridium difficile toxins, the effect on the immune system, action of probiotics on cardiovascular diseases, besides prevent cancer. After the literature review it was observed that the two microorganisms are equally beneficial to the consumer, it is not productive to compare the efficiency of one over the other. However, the cost of products containing S. boulardii is more affordable than those containing bifidobactéria. Despite this, the access of the population to these products is still a challenge which can be overcome when assessing the benefits and the results obtained with treatment, with minimal collateral effects.